Feed mixer truck

ABSTRACT

A feed mixer truck for mixing feed and for discharging mixed feed into an elongated feed bunk. The engine of the truck is mechanically connected to three hydraulic pumps which are hydraulically connected to a hydraulic motor for driving the drive wheels of the truck, which are hydraulically connected to a hydraulic motor for operating the feed mixer augers, and which are hydraulically connected to a hydraulic motor which operates a feed discharge assembly. A control is electrically connected to the motors to control the operation thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a feed mixer truck and more particularly to afeed mixer truck wherein the main mixing auger or augers, the dischargeauger or augers, and the drive wheels of the truck are powered byhydraulic motors.

Description of the Related Art

Feed mixer trucks are commonly used in cattle feeding operations whereinelongated feed bunks are utilized. The prior art feed mixer trucksusually have a feed mixing body positioned on the rearward end of thetruck. The prior art feed mixing bodies normally employ one or more mainfeed mixing augers and one or more feed discharge augers.

Initially, various feed ingredients such as corn, minerals, molasses,etc. are separately dumped into the feed mixing body according to aprescribed ration. The feed mixing augers are then actuated to mix thefeed ingredients together. The feed mixing truck is then driven to aposition adjacent one end of the feed bunk so that the discharge end ofthe feed discharge chute is positioned over the bunk. The operator ofthe truck then actuates the feed discharge auger or augers and drivesalong the length of the feed bunk. The operator attempts to control thespeed of the truck and the discharge feed rate in a manner so that thefeed is evenly placed in the feed bunk along the length thereof so thatall cattle will have access to an equal amount of feed. It is extremelydifficult, if not impossible, for the operator to maintain a constanttruck speed and control a constant feed discharge rate. Thus, the amountof feed being discharged into the feed bunk may be less than the desiredor amount or may be greater than the desired amount.

Applicant's feed mixer truck as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,192,897issued Nov. 24, 2015 represented an advance in the feed mixer truck art.The instant invention represents a further advance in the feed mixertruck art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects oressential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summaryis not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

A feed mixer truck is described for mixing feed and for dispensing themixed feed into an elongated feed bunk. The truck includes a frame meanshaving a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side,with the frame means having steerable wheels at the forward end thereof.The frame means has drive wheels at the rearward end thereof. An enginecompartment is mounted on the frame means at the forward end thereof. Anengine is mounted on the frame means within the engine compartment andhas a rotatable drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom. A feedmixing body is mounted on the frame means rearwardly of the operator'scab. All of the above described structure is conventional.

The manual transmission of the truck is removed and three hydraulicpumps are operatively secured to the drive shaft so that the threehydraulic pumps are driven by the engine. A first hydraulic motor isoperatively connected to the drive wheels by a gear drive so that thefirst hydraulic motor may cause the drive wheels to rotate to move thetruck. The first hydraulic pump is fluidly connected to the firsthydraulic motor to supply hydraulic power thereto.

The feed mixing body has at least one feed mixing auger selectivelyrotatably mounted therein and will normally have a plurality of feedmixing augers selectively rotatably mounted therein. A second hydraulicmotor is operatively connected to the feed mixing auger or augers, by agear drive, which is configured to selectively rotate the feed mixingauger or augers to mix feed in the feed mixing body. The secondhydraulic pump is fluidly connected to the second hydraulic motor forsupplying hydraulic power thereto.

A feed discharge assembly is associated with the feed mixing body forselectively discharging mixed feed from one side of the feed mixingbody. A third hydraulic motor is operatively connected to the feeddischarge assembly by a gear drive for selective actuation of the feeddischarge assembly. The third hydraulic pump is fluidly connected to thethird hydraulic motor for supplying hydraulic power thereto.

The truck includes a control means for selectively operating the first,second and third hydraulic motors with the control means beingconfigured to control the actuation and speed of each of the first,second and third hydraulic motors; and the duration of the actuation ofeach of the first, second and third hydraulic motors.

A foot pedal is positioned in the cab which is operatively connected tothe first hydraulic motor to enable the operator to initially positionthe truck adjacent the feed bunk.

In the preferred embodiment, a brake control and a park brake controlare provided within the cab. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment,a first adjustment dial or control is positioned in the cab which isconnected to the control means to enable the speed of the secondhydraulic motor to be adjusted by the operator. Also, a secondadjustment dial or control is positioned in the cab which is connectedto the control means to enable the speed of the third hydraulic motor tobe adjusted by the operator.

In the preferred embodiment, at least some of the first, second andthird hydraulic motors are reversible and are variable speed motors. Inthe preferred embodiment, a ground speed sensor is mounted on the truckwhich is in communication with the control means and a GPS system ismounted on the truck which is in communication with the control means.In the preferred embodiment, a weigh scale is mounted on the truck whichis in communication with the control means.

After the truck has been initially positioned adjacent the feed bunk andthe discharge chute thereof has been positioned over the feed bunk, thecontrol means is actuated to move the truck along the length of the feedbunk at the proper rate of speed and to dispense feed from the feedmixing body into the feed bunk in a precisely controlled manner.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide animproved feed mixture truck for mixing feed and for dispensing the mixedfeed into an elongated feed bunk.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feed mixer truck whichincludes a conventional engine which drives three hydraulic pumps whichin turn drives the first hydraulic motor which drives the drive wheels,a second hydraulic motor which operates the mixing auger or augers, anda third hydraulic motor which operates the feed discharge assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feed mixing truckincluding a conventional engine which drives hydraulic pumps which inturn drives hydraulic motors which operate the drive wheels, mixeraugers and discharge augers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a feed mixing truck ofthe type described which is configured to not only mix the feed in thefeed mixing body thereof but to precisely move the truck along thelength of a feed bunk and discharge a precise amount of feed into thefeed bunk.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the feed mixer truck of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the feed mixer truck of thisinvention discharging feed along the length of a feed bunk;

FIG. 3 is rear elevational view of the feed mixer truck of thisinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the various components of the feed mixer truck.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to theaccompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way ofillustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments aredisclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is,therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of thepresent invention is defined only by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a conventional feed mixer truck 10 except for thechanges thereto set forth hereinbelow. The conventional truck 10 will bedescribed as having a forward end 12, a rearward end 14, a left side 16and a right side 18. Truck 10 includes a frame means 20 having a pair ofsteerable front wheels 22 and a pair of rear wheels 24 and 26 providedthereon in conventional fashion. Truck 10 also includes an operator'scab 28 at the forward end thereof and an engine compartment 30positioned forwardly of the cab 28 in conventional fashion. An engine 32is positioned within engine compartment 30 in a conventional manner.Preferably, the engine is a 300 HP, 8.3 liter diesel engine such asmanufactured by Cummins. Engine 32 has a drive shaft 34 extendingrearwardly therefrom.

Normally, the drive shaft of the engine 32 is connected to a manualtransmission to supply power to a differential 36 which is operativelyconnected to the rear drive axle 38 located within axle housings 40 and42 to drive the rear wheels 24 and 26. In the mixer truck of thisinvention, the manual transmission is removed from the truck andreplaced by hydraulic pumps 44, 44′ and 44″ which are driven by theengine drive shaft. The hydraulic pumps 44, 44′ and 44″ are driven at aconstant speed.

Truck 10 includes a conventional feed mixer or mixing body 46 at therearward end thereof. Body 46 includes a feed mixer auger system orapparatus 48 therein which usually includes one or more rotatable feedmixer augers 50. As shown, the augers 50 are horizontally disposed butthe auger 50 could be vertically disposed in some cases. Each of theaugers 50 includes an auger shaft 52 having a forward end 54 and arearward end 56. Truck 10 also includes a feed discharge assembly orapparatus 58 for discharging the mixed feed from one side of the feedmixer body 46. Assembly 58 usually includes at least one rotatabledischarge auger 60 having an auger shaft 62. To this point, truck 10 isconventional in design except for the replacement of the manualtransmission of the truck with the hydraulic pumps 44, 44′ and 44″ andthe means for driving the rear wheels 24 and 26, the means for drivingthe mixer auger assembly 48 and the means for driving the feed dischargeassembly 58 which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Hydraulic pumps 44, 44′ and 44″ are hydraulically connected to hydraulicmotors 64, 66 and 68 (FIG. 4) respectively. Hydraulic motor 64 ispreferably connected to a 36-1 gear drive 70. Hydraulic motor 64 andgear drive 70 may be combined as a gear motor if so desired. The outputshaft of gear drive 70 is operatively connected to the shafts 52 of theaugers 60 to cause the rotation of the augers 60 to mix the feed in thebody 46. Hydraulic motor 66 is preferably connected to a gear drive 72.Motor 66 and gear drive 72 may be combined as a gear motor if sodesired. Motor 68 is preferably connected to gear drive 74. Motor 68 andgear drive 74 may be combined as a gear motor if so desired. Preferably,differential 36 is a 7-1 reduction differential which results in a 21-1reduction of rotation of the rear wheels 24 and 26 for the 37-inchdiameter tires of the rear wheels 24 and 26. The numeral 74 refers to acontrol means for controlling the operation of the hydraulic pumps 44,44′, 44″ and hydraulic motors 64, 66 and 68. A speed sensor apparatus 76is mounted on the truck which senses the speed of the truck inconventional fashion and supplies that information to the control means74. The truck 10 also preferably includes a conventional GPS system 78which is connected to the control means to communicate the position ofthe truck 10 to the control means 74. The truck 10 also preferablyincludes a weight sensor 80 which senses the weight of the feed in themixer body 46 and relays that information to the control means 74. Thecontrol means 74 is conveniently located behind the cab 28, as seen inFIG. 1.

A foot pedal 82 is located in the cab 28 which is connected to thecontrol means 74 to enable the operator to actuate motor 68 to drive thetruck to a position adjacent the feed bunk 83 before the on-boardcomputers and control means take over the operation of the truck 10.

An adjustment dial or control 84 is positioned in the cab 28 and isconnected to control means 74 to enable the speed of hydraulic motor 64to be adjusted by the operator for such conditions as mud, etc. Anadjustment dial or control 86 is positioned in the cab 28 and isconnected to control means 74 to enable the speed of hydraulic motor 66to be adjusted by the operator for such conditions as mud, etc.

A brake control 88 is positioned in cab 28 and is connected to controlmeans 74 to enable the operator to brake the truck 10. A park brakecontrol 90 is positioned in cab 28 and is connected to control means 74to enable the operator to apply a park brake to the truck 10

In operation, the ingredients of a feed ration, such as corn, minerals,molasses, etc. are placed in the mixer body 48. The truck engine is thenactivated and the control means 74 actuated. The control means willautomatically actuate the hydraulic motor 64 so that the mixer augers 50mix the feed ingredients for a predetermined length of time. During themixing time, the operator may use the foot pedal 82 to operate thehydraulic motor 68 through control means 74 to drive the truck to aposition adjacent the feed bunk 83. The discharge chute of the feeddischarge assembly is then lowered until the discharge end of thedischarge chute is positioned over the feed bunk 83.

The operator then actuates the control means 74 so that the motors 64,66 and 68 are automatically controlled by the control means 74. Thecontrol means 74 will then control the speed of the motor 68 so that thetruck 10 moves along the length of the feed bunk 83 at a constantcontrolled speed. At that same time, the mixer auger 50 will move thefeed in the feed mixer body 46 forwardly towards the discharge augerassembly 58 which is driven by the hydraulic motor 66 at a constantcontrolled speed. The operator within the cab simply steers the truckalong the length of the feed bunk to provide better placement of thefeed, in the proper amount, in the feed bunk. All truck movement, mixerauger speed, and discharge auger speed are controlled by the on-boardcomputers. GPS, speed and weight inputs from various on-board componentsenables exact amounts of feed to be properly placed in the feed bunk.The system provides many parameters that can be easily set to obtain theexact speed and horsepower as needed when needed. The system of thisinvention also eliminates the possibility of damaging events caused bypoor operator performance.

Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specificto certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarilylimited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, thespecific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing theclaimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can bepracticed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

I claim:
 1. A feed mixer truck for mixing feed and for dispensing thefeed into an elongated feed bunk, comprising: a frame means having aforward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side; said framemeans having steerable wheels at said forward end thereof; said framemeans having drive wheels at said rearward end thereof; an enginecompartment at said forward end of said frame means; an engine mountedon said frame means within said engine compartment; said engine having arotatable drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom; an operator's cabon said frame means rearwardly of said forward end thereof; a feedmixing body mounted on said frame means rearwardly of said operator'scab; first, second and third hydraulic pumps are operatively secured tosaid drive shaft whereby said first, second and third hydraulic pumpsare driven by said engine; a first hydraulic motor operatively connectedto said drive wheels so that said first hydraulic motor may cause saiddrive wheels to rotate to move the truck; said first hydraulic pumpbeing hydraulically connected to said first hydraulic motor to supplyhydraulic power thereto; said feed mixing body having at least one feedmixing auger selectively rotatably mounted therein; a second hydraulicmotor operatively connected to said feed mixing auger which isconfigured to selectively rotate said feed mixing auger to mix feed insaid feed mixing body; said second hydraulic pump being hydraulicallyconnected to said second hydraulic motor for supplying hydraulic powerthereto; a feed discharge assembly associated with said feed mixing bodyfor selectively discharging mixed feed from one side of said feed mixingbody; a third hydraulic motor operatively connected to said feeddischarge assembly for selective actuation of said feed dischargeassembly; said third hydraulic pump being hydraulically connected tosaid third hydraulic motor for supplying hydraulic power thereto; acontrol means for selectively operating said first, second and thirdhydraulic motors; said control means configured to control the actuationand speed of each of said first, second and third hydraulic motors; afirst adjustment control in said cab which is connected to said controlmeans whereby the operator of the truck may adjust the speed of saidsecond hydraulic motor to compensate for conditions adjacent the feedbunk; a second adjustment control in said cab which is connected to saidcontrol means whereby the operator of the truck may adjust the speed ofsaid third hydraulic motor to compensate for conditions adjacent thefeed bunk; and a foot pedal positioned in said cab which is operativelyconnected to said first hydraulic motor through said control means toenable the operator to initially position the truck adjacent the feedbunk.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least some of said first,second and third hydraulic motors are reversible.
 3. The structure ofclaim 1 wherein a gear drive interconnects said first hydraulic motor tosaid drive wheels.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said gear driveis a reduction gear drive.
 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein a geardrive interconnects said second hydraulic motor and said feed mixingauger.
 6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said gear drive is areduction gear drive.
 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein a gear driveinterconnects said third hydraulic motor and said feed dischargeassembly.
 8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said gear drive is areduction gear drive.
 9. A feed mixer truck for mixing feed and fordispensing the feed into an elongated feed bunk, comprising: a framemeans having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a secondside; said frame means having steerable wheels at said forward endthereof; said frame means having drive wheels at said rearward endthereof; an engine compartment at said forward end of said frame means;an engine mounted on said frame means within said engine compartment;said engine having a rotatable drive shaft extending rearwardlytherefrom; an operator's cab on said frame means rearwardly of saidforward end thereof; a feed mixing body mounted on said frame meansrearwardly of said operator's cab; first, second and third hydraulicpumps operatively secured to said drive shaft whereby said first, secondand third hydraulic pumps are driven by said engine; a first hydraulicmotor operatively connected to said drive wheels so that said firsthydraulic motor may cause said drive wheels to rotate to move the truck;said first hydraulic pump being hydraulically connected to said firsthydraulic motor to supply hydraulic power thereto; said feed mixing bodyhaving at least one feed mixing auger selectively rotatably mountedtherein; a second hydraulic motor operatively connected to said feedmixing auger which is configured to selectively rotate said feed mixingauger to mix feed in said feed mixing body; said second hydraulic pumpbeing hydraulically connected to said hydraulic motor for supplyinghydraulic power thereto; a feed discharge assembly associated with saidfeed mixing body for selectively discharging mixed feed from one side ofsaid feed mixing body; a third hydraulic motor operatively connected tosaid feed discharge assembly for selective actuation of said feeddischarge assembly; said third hydraulic pump being hydraulicallyconnected to said third hydraulic motor for supplying hydraulic powerthereto; a control means for selectively operating said first, secondand third hydraulic motors; said control means configured to control: a.the actuation and speed of each of said first, second and thirdhydraulic motors; and b. the duration of the actuation time of saidsecond hydraulic motor; and a first adjustment control in said cab whichis connected to said control means whereby the operator of the truck mayadjust the speed of said second hydraulic motor to compensate forconditions adjacent the feed bunk; a second adjustment control in saidcab which is connected to said control means whereby the operator of thetruck may adjust the speed of said third hydraulic motor to compensatefor conditions adjacent the feed bunk; and a foot pedal positioned insaid cab which is operatively connected to said first hydraulic motorthrough said control means to enable the operator to initially positionthe truck adjacent the feed bunk.
 10. The structure of claim 9 wherein afirst gear drive interconnects said first hydraulic motor to said drivewheels, a second gear drive interconnects said second hydraulic motorand said feed mixing auger, and a third gear drive interconnects saidthird hydraulic motor and said feed discharge assembly.
 11. Thestructure of claim 10 wherein at least one of said first, second andthird hydraulic motors is a variable speed electric motor and wherein atleast one of said first, second and third hydraulic motors is areversible electric motor.
 12. The structure of claim 9 including aground speed sensor mounted on the truck which is in communication withsaid control means.
 13. The structure of claim 9 including a GPS systemmounted on the truck which is in communication with said control means.14. The structure of claim 9 including a weigh scale mounted on thetruck which is in communication with said control means.
 15. Thestructure of claim 9 wherein said cab has a brake control positionedtherein which is operatively connected to said control means.
 16. Thestructure of claim 9 wherein said cab has a park brake controlpositioned therein which is operatively connected to said control means.17. The structure of claim 9 wherein said cab has a brake control and apark brake control positioned therein which is operatively connected tosaid control means.